Agitator mounting for suction cleaners



Aug. 19, 1952 P. T. HAHN 2,607,069

AGITATOR MOUNTING FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed April 25, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 [Ni ENTOR. final 7: f/dZn.

A g- 1952 P. T. HAHN 2,607,069

AGITATOR MOUNTING FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed April 25, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 v 7 v 5 a 6 v A A? M34 A75 y INVEN TOR. 72212 '7. 1 4%.

Aug. 19, 1952 P. T. HAHN 2,607,069

AGITATOR MOUNTING FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed April 25, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. 7%!

ZZMJW Aug. 19, 1952 T, H 2,607,069

AGITATOR MOUNTING FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed April 23, 1945 5 Sheets-Shi 4 505 W4 PW INVENTOR. zmz 7/72/21. E

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 AGIT-A'TORMOUNTING FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Paul T. Hahn, Detroit, Mich, .assignor to Eureka Williams Corporation, a corporation of Michigan .ApplicationApril .23, 1945, Serial N.o.:'589,7'f1'7 (Cl. l.391.)

I .6 .Claims.

This relates to :snction cleaners and has particular reference to certain new and use- T111 improvements relating to the agitator bearings thread guards and means for securing the same and the agitator within the .nozzle of the cleaner.

IPr-inc'ipai objects 'of the invention, therefore, are to provide: y

.A new and improved suction cleaner;

Anovel and :eiiicient bearing and thread guard for the agitator of a suction cleaner and .a means for secnringzthe same in the nozzle of the cleaner;

A novel and efficient means for securing the agitator in the nozzle of the cleaner;

A novel and efficient means for securing the bottom plate of the cleaner in position;

.A new and improved form of agitator latch and Toelt guard.

Other and further objects ofthe invention will be apparentfrom the following description and claims and will she understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are five .sheetswhich, .by way-of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the :best .mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. :Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same :or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from thexpresent. invention and the purview of the appended claims. .I also contemplate that of the several differentieatunes of my invention, certain ones thereof may be advantageously emplayed in some applications separate and apart from the remainder of the features.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of acleaner embodying the invention; Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the cleaner'illustrating certain details of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken along the .line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the nozzle ofthe cleaner illustrating a modified Fig.6 is a side v.elevartional view of that part of the nozzle illustratedtin Fig. 4, but taken the opposite side of the cleaner;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view taken along the .line J--Fl :of 5;

Fig. 8 is .a sectional view taken along the :line .88 :of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken :along the line 9-9 of Fig. '6';

Fig. -10;is a view similar to Fig. -2 but illustrating a further modified .form of the invention and taken along the line 0-10 tit-Fig. 11;

Fig. 11 is a sectional "view taken along the line H-ll of 101; V

Fig. :12 51532, bottom'plan "view taken line lit-1.2 of Fig. .11;

Fig. 13 is a view to Fig. "4 illustrating a i-f-urther'modific'ation of the invention and taken generally along the line l-3-l3 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line i l-I4 of Fig. 113;

along the Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of part of the.

cleaner taken along the line 15- -15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is "a perspective view of the agitator latch and belt guard;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the cleaner, looking in the direction of the arrow I! of Figfll i;

Fig. 18 is :a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig.2 but illustrating a modified form of the invention, taken along the line 18-18 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 19 is a sectional View taken along the line iii-I9 of Fig. '18;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the nozzle, looking in the direction of the arrow 20 in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a bottom plan view taken along the line 2'l--2'l of Fig. 19'; and

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the agitator latch and belt guard.

A suction cleaner embodying the invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 and comprises a body or cas ing 30 provided with wheels 32 and 31 for supporting the cleaner for movement on the floor, a pivoted handle 3.6 for maneuvering the cleaner, and a dirt collecting bag 38 operatively connected to the discharge side of the fan. As further illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the body or casing 30 is formed to provide a nozzle 40 having a downwardly presented mouth 42 in which an agitator or rotary brush 44 is operatively arranged. An

electric motor 46 is directly connected with a fan 48 arranged in a fan chamber 50.

The fan chamber 50 is provided with an eye or air inlet opening 52 forming a communication with one end of an air conducting passage 54, the other end of which communicates with the interior of the nozzle 46 so that during operation of the fan 48 a flow of air will be induced into the nozzle 40 through the mouth thereof, through the passage 54 and the fan chamber 56, and thence through the discharge thereof to the I dirt collecting bag 38. The fan chamber, nozzle,

and passageway 54 may be formed at least in part by a casting.

The bottom of the passage 54 is formed by a removable bottom plate 56, such bottom plate being seated against the lower edge of a depending wall 58 to complete the passage 54. The front edge 6!! of the bottom plate 516 extends across the rear of the nozzle 46 and defines the rear lip thereof which extends generally parallel to the front lip 62 of the nozzle, which in the present instance is formed integrally with the main casting. The front end 60 of the bottom plate seats against the lower edge of the rear wall 64 of the nozzle, such wall being formed integrally with the main casting and being relieved at its center so as to establish communication between the interior of the nozzle 40 and the passageway 54.

At its rear end the bottom plate 56 is detachably held against the lower edge of the wall 53 by means of a suitable latch 66. At its forward end each side of the bottom plate 56 is provided with a lug 68 forming a shoulder for engagement by one end I of a spring 12. Each side of the nozzle 40 is provided with a spring I2, one end 74 of which may be arranged in the form of an eye and clamped to the top wall of the nozzle 46 by means of a screw I6. Thus the two springs 12 at the sides of the nozzle 40 form resilient hooks or latches at their lower ends which engage the shoulders on'the bottom plate 56 provided by the lugs 68 for r'emovably clamping the front end of the bottom plate in position.

The margin of the bottom plate which bears against the lower edge of the wall 58 is formed in the shape of a channel and preferably provided with a gasket so as to resist lateral displacement of. the bottom plate 56 and also to provide a good seal between the same and the side walls 58 of the passagefi54. By displacing the latch 66 from obstructing position relative to the rear end of the bottom plate 56, the same may be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about thefront end 60 thereof and thence by rearwardly shifting the bottom plate it may be readily separated from the cleaner when the lugs 68 clear the latches 10.

The inside of each side wall of the nozzle 40 is provided with a guide 80 and seat 82 for a stub shaft 84 formed integrally with the thread guard 86. The stub shaft 84 and thread guard 86 form a bearing housing and support for the bearing (not shown) on which one end of the rotary brush or agitator 44 is rotatably journaled in the nozzle 40, the stub shaft 84 and thread guard 86 being non-rotatable when the stub shaft 84 is seated in the seat 82 as illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be observed that the stub shaft 64 is oval in cross section, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The axis of rotation of the agitator 44 is offset vertically relative to the center of stub shaft 84 so that by removingthe agitator from the nozzle and turning the stub shaft 8 4 one hundred eighty of the agitator may be moved toward or away from the mouth 42 of the nozzle for the purpose of securing a vertical adjustment of the rotary brush 44 within the nozzle 40 of the cleaner, as is desirable under some circumstances, particularly after the brush bristles have become worn.

A belt 00 in driving relationship with a pulley 92 provided on the hub of the fan 48 and a pulley formed on the agitator 44 is operative for driving the latter during the operation of the motor and the fan. The spring I2 isprovided with an offset portion 94 forming a shoulder or latch which is arranged to bear against the under side of the stub shaft 84 and to hold the same on its seat 82. The guide 80 is formed by a pair of ribs 56 and 98, the rib 98 being partially relieved below the seat 82 so as to accommodate the shoulder 94 of the spring I2 and enable it to bear against the under side of the stub shaft 84. The spring 12 thus also forms a latch for the agitator.

The springs 12 may be sufliciently flexible so that the stub shafts 64 at each end of the agitator may be pressed into their seats 82 even when the bottom plate 56 is in place, although it will be apparent that in order to remove the agitator 44 from the nozzle'40, it will be necessary to remove the bottom plate 56 so as to free the ends ID of the springs "I2 in order to permit the springs I2 to yield sufiiciently for the stub shafts 8-4 to'pass the shoulders 94. The ends I0 of the springs are formed so as to bias thefront end 60 of the bottom plate 56 upwardly so-that when the bottom plate 56 is in position the displacement of the ends 10 of the springs I2 will cause the shoulders 94 to react against the stub shafts 84 sufficiently so as to firmly hold the stub-shafts 84 in their seats during operation of the agitator 4'4.

In the modification shown on sheet 2, the forward end I00 of the bottom plate I02 is shaped somewhat 'difierently than that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the bottom plate I62 in the construction illustrated on Sheet 2 projecting laterally beyond the side walls I04 of the nozzle at the rear thereof and being provided with forwardly extending lugs I06, each of which lugs I06 rests upon a seat I08 formed on one end of an agitator latch H9, as shown in Fig. 8. The agitator latch H0 is channel shaped in cross section and is pivoted at II2 by a pin to the side lip H4 of the nozzle mouth, the lip H4 being formed so as to be received within the channel shaped part of the latch H0 and so that the latch IIO when closed in effect forms a continuation of the lip I I4.

The latch IIO, when closed, extends across the lower end of a guide II6 formed on the inside of the side wall I04 of the nozzle, it being understood that each inside wall of the nozzle is provided with the same construction. The guide H6, as illustrated in Fig. 4, is in the form of a generally rectangular shaped recess which may be formed by the side wall I04 of thenozzle and above the mouth thereof. Each guide H6 'is adapted to accommodate a thread guard H8 which'is generally rectangular in shape. The side walls of the guide II6, however, may be provided with a slight taper which makes the lower end of the guide I I6 slightly wider than the upper end thereof, and the upper and lower halves of the thread guards H8 at the sides thereof may be slightly tapered so as to snugly fit within the upper part only of the guide H6. The thread degrees about its own'axis, the center of rotation guard H8 is stationarily positioned in the guide I -I-6 and is :formed with an annular pocket I20 in which the end or the cylindrical agitator body I22 is received.

A felt washer I24 may be arranged between the end of the body I22 and the adjacent wall of the thread'gnard. A central portion of the thread guard is oflset to form an annular boss I26 having va'hole therein through which the threaded end I28 :of the stationary agitator shaft I30 extends. A nut I32 is threaded onthe threaded end I28 of the agitator shaft I30 for holding the thread guard II8 assembled to the agitator.

A fiber gasket or washer I 34 may be arranged between the-center boss 126 of the thread guard and a sleeve bearing I36 which is arranged in a socket I38 in the end of the agitator body I22 and which is journaled on the shaft I30 for rotatably supporting the agitator body I22 on the shaft 130. While only one end of. the nozzleand agitator have been illustrated, it will be under,- stood that the other end embodies thesame construction. This is true in connection with the modification illustrated on Sheet 2, as well as the other modifications illustrated.

The axis of the shaft 130 is positioned on center vertically relative to the center of the thread guard H8 so that when the agitator and thread guard assembly has been removed from the guide [I6 and the thread guard shifted 180, relative to the axis of the shaft I30 and thereafter reinserted in the guide I I6, the agitator body I22 will be positioned closer to the nozzle mouth than it. is as illustrated in Fig. 4. This is provided so as to obtain adjustment of the agitator in the nozzle to compensate for wear of the brush bristles.

It will thus be observed that when the bottom plate I02 is removed in a manner similar to that as described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3., the latches -IIO may beswung about their pivots I I2 so as to expose the open or lower end of the guide H6, thereby making it possible to remove the agitator from the nozzle by sliding the thread guards IIB out of their guides I I6. It should be noted that, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and B, the

swinging end of the latch H0 is provided with a part III which is positioned between the nozzle side wall I04 and the lugs I06 of the bottom plate I02 when the bottom plate is its position and the latches H0 in their closed position. The latches IIO may be formed with-a spring action so as to bias the thread guards l I8 firmly in the guides I16.

In the modification .as disclosed in Figs. 10, .l1 and 12 on Sheet 3, the bottom plate 200 is secured in position independently of the agitator latch. Each side wall of the nozzle is provided with a guide 204 and a pair-of shoulders 200 forming a seat for receiving and seating the thread guard 208, the thread guard being provided with suitable pairs of shoulders 2! and 202 on oppositesides thereof so that the agitator 2M may be positioned in either of two positions in the nozzle and relative to the mouth thereof.

The thread guard 2:03 is very similar to that illustrated in the modification shown on Sheet 2 and includes an annular recess 2I6 for receiving the end of the body of the agitator 2| 4. A felt washer 2I8 is positioned between the end of the agitator body and the bottom of the recess 2IB. The thread guard 208 further includes an apertured central boss 220 through which the threaded end 222 of the agitator shaft 224 extends. A fiber washer 226 is arranged between the central boss 220 and a sleeve .bearing 228 which is journaled on the shaft 224 and seated in a tatably such end of the'agitator on the shaft 2.24. A nut 230 secured on the threaded end 222 oithe shaft 22.4.secures the thread guard 208 in assembled position on the end of the agitator 2'14,

The thread guard at its upper and lowerends is provided witlzi grooves 232. and. 234;ior rece'i-vmg a spring 236 which functions was. an. tat-or latch for removablynholding the, thread guard 208 on its. seat- The spring 236 :may be in the form of an-L'and be rotatably secured in a hole provided in :the top, wall of thelnnzzle. Thus, by pressing downwardly on thefiree. end 231 of the snring236 shitting it imaxcoimterclockwi'se direction (Fig. 12).; itj-may be separated from the thread guard 208- :and moved out of th path of the agitator Z'Hrso asztfl the same with its-.threadguards-to beremoved fromthenozzlel, 1.1-

:-:= In the. embodiment illustrated on gfiheeitfl, the front end ,300 of the-bottom plat -=3021at-each side thereof is provided with lugs $04- which latch over the tops of the outwardly projecting ends 305 of the nozzle lipsi flllfl. at the sides of the nozzle for retaining r the; end; of the .bottom plate 302 in, positionytheirrear end being securedasillustrated in'fig.-;2.,I. II 1 An agitator latch .andzbelt guard member v310 (Fig. 16) is pivotally securediattfl ztoithe forward end 3I4 of the bottom plate which-defines the rear lip of th nozzle .mouth. Themember 310 includes two arms tilt, onefat each sideof the nozzle, and a Ll-shapedcentralportion 3118 is adapted to function asza guards/hen the parts are positioned-as illustrated Fig; :15.

The member 31 0 is pivotally secured-to theftsward end of the bottom plate 302 and; adapted to be pivoted relative thereto... *Afterwthe-rear end of the bottom plate 3.02 released and the lugs 304 at the front end of the. bottom plate separated from their-retaining means, *thememher 310 may be disengaged from the nozzle by -disengaging the hooks 320 at,.-th forward ends of the arms 3H5 from the notches-orv keepers with which the hooks 320 are engaged; asillustrated in Figs..13and-14.

- I The forward end of the; belt guard BIB adapted to be positioned inairecessiormed in the front lip 322 (of thenoz zle-so that thelower side of the member 310 at-the iront is substam tial-l-y flush with the stlrifibe ofgt-he'lip 322..

The arms 3I6 form latches for securing the agitator or rotary brushM 4r in-the;nozzle. The

inside walls at the the nozzle .areeach provided with a guide 3265 substantially thev same kind as illustrated in modification shown on Sheet 3, for receiving the -thread gutrds .328 secured to the ends of the agitator .3-2 4.- The 2 arms 316 cooperat with. grooves 30iormed on the thread guard for retaining the same inposition in the guide 326 toroperatively retaining theagitator 324 in the nozzle. Thaconstruetionof the thread guard and the agitator v -i-ts, be-aring are the same as illustrated inl fig s. 10 ll and- 12., so the description of the same .need not be repeatedhere. f.

In the modification illustrated onSheet s, the agitator, thread guard, andbeari ng .for the agis tator are constructed substantiallythe same as illustrated in the modifications shown on Sheets 3 and 4. The bottom plate 402 is secured in position in the same manner ,as shown. in Fig...1-5, but the agitator latch belt guard member-404 is not pivoted thereto, asshowninthe previous modification, but rather is pivoted at 406 to the front lip 408 of the nozzle. The member 404 in cludes a'belt guard 4 I and a pair of spring arms or members 2, one for each end of the nozzle, each of which is cooperable with a thread guard 4| 4 for retaining the same in position in their uides.

The front lip 408 of the nozzle is provided with several holes through which the arms M2 on the belt guard 4 i 0 extend and which permit a pivotal movement of the same. The rear ends MB of the arms 2 are retained in position by v a shoulder 418 formed by the forward end of the bottom plate 402 on the upper side thereof. Thus, after the'bottom plate 402 is removed, the arms 2 may be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 18) so as to release the thread guards and thereby make possible the removal of the same from their guides. The member 404,- as well as the member 3"! of the previous modification, preferably is formed of spring wire and is so formed as to firmly hold the thread guards in their guides.

While I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it is understood that these are capableof modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations which fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner having a nozzle and a fan chamber, with a passage interconnecting the same, a readily removable bottom plate defining the bottom wall of said passage and the rear lip of said nozzle, and a rotary agitator operatively arranged in said nozzle, said agitator being provided at its ends with stationary thread guards; said nozzle having closed ends, the insides of which are provided with aligned U-shaped guides providing seats for receiving and seating said thread guards, and a pair of spring members, one for each end of said nozzle, each spring member having one of its ends reacting against a part of said nozzle, and a part thereof reacting against one of said thread guards, said bottom plate having a. portion thereof against which the other ends of said spring members react for maintaining said spring members in operative position for biasing and securing said thread guards in position on said seats so that upon removal of said bottom plate said agitator may be readily removed from said nozzle.

2. In a suction cleaner having a nozzle and a fan chamber, with a passage interconnecting the same, a removable bottom plate defining the bottom wall of said passage and the rear lip of said nozzle, and a rotary agitator operatively arranged in said nozzle, said agitator being provided at its ends with stationary thread guards; said nozzle being provided with aligned guides forming seats for receiving and seating said thread guards, and a pair of members, one for each end of said nozzle, each of said members having one of its ends pivoted to a part of said nozzle, and a portion thereof extending across one of said guides for maintaining a thread guard therein, said bottom plate having portions thereof with which the other ends of said members are engageable for maintaining said members in position across said guides for holding said guards in said seats.

3. In a suction cleaner having a nozzle and a fan chamber, with a passage interconnecting the same, a removable plate defining at least part of the bottom wall of said passage, and a rotary agitator operatively arranged in said nozzle, said agitator being provided at its ends with stationary holders on which said agitator is rotatably mounted, said nozzle being provided with aligned guides forming seats for receiving and seating said holders, and a pair of members, one for each end of said nozzle, each of said members having one of its ends pivoted to a part of said nozzle, and a portion thereof extending across one of said guides for maintaining said holder therein, said plate having portions thereof with which the other ends of said members may be engaged for maintaining said members in position across said guides for holding said holders in said seats.

4. Ina suction cleaner having a nozzle and a rotary agitator operatively arranged in said nozzle, said agitator being provided at its ends with stationary thread guards; said nozzle having closed ends, the insides of which are provided with aligned guides forming seats for receiving and seating said thread guards, said thread guards having a downwardly facing groove on the under side thereof, and spring means including a pair of spring members, one at each end of said nozzle, each spring member having one of its ends reacting against a part of said nozzle, and a portion normally extending horizontally across said guide and located in said thread guard groove to bias and maintain said thread guard on its seat, said spring members being detachable from said grooves by downward movement of said horizontally extending portions of said spring members relative to said thread guards.

5. In a suction cleaner having a nozzle and a fan chamber, with a passage interconnecting the same, a removable bottom plate defining the bottom wall of said passage and the rear lip of said nozzle, and a rotary agitator operatively arranged in said nozzle, said agitator being provided at its ends with stationary thread guards; said nozzle being provided with aligned guides forming seats for receiving and seating said thread guards, and a spring member having one of its ends pivotally connected to the front lip of said nozzle and having portions extending rearwardly, said bottom plate cooperating with said rearwardly extending portions to position said spring member beneath said guides, said rearwardly extending portions cooperating with said thread guards for maintaining the same on said seats in said guides.

6. In a suction cleaner having a nozzle and a fan chamber, with a passage interconnecting the same, a removable bottom plate defining the bottom wall of said passage and the rear lip of said nozzle, and a rotary agitator operatively arranged in said nozzle, said agitator being provided at its ends with stationary holders, 2. power driven belt drivingly engaged with said agitator; said nozzle being provided with aligned guides forming seats for receiving and seating said holders, and a spring member having one of its ends pivotally connected to the front lip of said nozzle and having portions extending rearwardly, the other end of said spring member being engageable with said bottom plate so as to position portions of said spring member across said guides, said portions of said spring members cooperating with said holders for maintaining the same on said seats in said guides, said spring member including another portion extending transversely of said nozzle below said belt and forming a guard therefor.

PAUL T. HAHN.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Oblosser Mar. 24, 1914 Hoover July 24, 1923 Curry June 23, 1931 Bass Mar. 26, 1935 10 Kitto Apr. 30, 1935 Kitto Sept. '7, 1937 Number Number 

